NOC 94105: Metalworking and forging machine operators

Light metalworking machine operators operate metalworking machines which shape and form sheet or other light metal into parts or products. Heavy metalworking machine operators operate metalworking machines which shape and form steel or other heavy metal into parts or products. Forging machine operators operate forging machines to form and shape metal into various shapes and sizes and impart desired strength, hardness or other characteristics. Light metalworking machine operators are employed by sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal shops and other light metal products manufacturing establishments. Heavy metalworking machine operators are employed by structural steel fabrication, boiler and platework manufacturing companies, heavy machinery manufacturing companies and in the shipbuilding industry. Forging machine operators are employed primarily in the fabricated metal products, machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): no, TEER 4 does not count for Express Entry.
• Canadian Experience Class: does not count.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: does not count.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 4: Occupations that usually need a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 94105 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws if you qualify through other experience.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 94105

None. Work in TEER 4 and 5 occupations earns no Canadian work points in the CRS.

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Metalworking machine operators
• Read specifications or follow verbal instructions
• Lay out, set up and operate one or more light or heavy metalworking machines such as shears, power presses, saws, plate rolls, drills, brakes, slitters, punch presses, computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment, and other hand tools to cut, bend, roll, ream, punch and drill, weld or otherwise shape and form metal stock into parts or products
• Operate machines or equipment which weld, solder, bolt, screw or rivet metal parts together
• Check products for correct shapes, dimensions and other specifications
• Troubleshoot and perform corrective action or minor repairs
• May select and transport material to work area manually or using crane or hoist
• May document work completed
• May build staging or erect scaffolding as required for heavy metalworking jobs
• May clean or lubricate equipment and replace parts as required.
• Forging machine operators
• Operate gas or oil fired furnaces to heat metal to proper temperature prior to forging
• Place metal pieces in furnace using hand tongs or overhead cranes and remove from furnace when colour of metal indicates proper forging temperature, or load and unload furnace with automatic conveyor
• Position heated or cold metal pieces, on die of press or other forging machinery
• Operate presses or other forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, twisting, forming, drawing, upsetting, splitting, cutting, punching, piercing, bending, coining, or other operations to shape or form metal
• Position and adjust dies on anvil of forging machinery using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices and hand tools.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• bending press operator - metal fabrication
• cold press operator - metal forging
• disk flange operator - metal fabrication
• drop hammer operator - metal forging
• electric arc cutter - metal products manufacturing
• forging press operator
• metal-forming machine set-up operator
• metalworking machine operator
• power brake operator - metal fabrication
• power press operator - metal fabrication
• punch press setter - metalworking
• roll operator - metal fabrication
• saw operator - metal fabrication
• shear setter - metal fabrication
• sheet metal roll operator - metal fabrication

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school education may be required.
• Previous experience as a labourer or helper in the same company may be required.
• On-the-job training is usually provided.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 72102Sheet metal workers
• 72104Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
• 92023Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing